Lisa Nandy refuted Donald Trump’s assertion from the White House that the BBC is entirely fake news, amidst a dispute over an edited Panorama documentary. The BBC is set to address the matter on Monday, but the Culture Secretary expressed unwavering confidence in the leadership of the corporation.
The controversy revolves around segments of a speech made by the US president on January 6, 2021, the day of the Capitol attack by a group of Trump supporters. These clips were amalgamated and aired by the BBC last October as part of a Panorama documentary.
Last week, Karoline Leavitt, Mr. Trump’s press Secretary, criticized the BBC, labeling them as “total, 100% fake news” due to the allegedly deceitful editing of the speech clip. In response, Culture Secretary Nandy acknowledged the seriousness of the accusations but vehemently disagreed with the fake news claim, emphasizing the essential role of the BBC in global news dissemination.
She highlighted the significance of the BBC’s world service as a beacon of information for people worldwide, illuminating issues in regions where democratic discourse is limited. Nandy mentioned her proactive approach in addressing editorial lapses with the BBC and stated her confidence in the Chairman’s commitment to investigating the allegations thoroughly.
Additionally, a dispute arose over the weekend between Boris Johnson and BBC presenter Nick Robinson after the former PM accused the broadcaster of arrogance and attempting to undermine the corporation. Robinson acknowledged concerns about editorial standards at the BBC but pointed out a simultaneous political campaign aiming to discredit the organization.
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